Finalists Announced in 2018 Toyota Busking Championships

Ten of the best buskers from the across the 2018 Toyota Country Music Festival will compete in the Best of the Buskers concert tomorrow night, Saturday, 27 January 2018 at Toyota Park.

The Championships, which are designed to celebrate and recognise the talent in Peel Street during the festival, have seen registered buskers judged across the week with ten finalists announced today.

“This year's finalists are a diverse range of extraordinary talent that includes new, young and emerging artists,” said Mr. Hayden Pannell, Busking Coordinator, Tamworth Regional Council.

The finalists are Zac & George from NSW who have been performing at Target and Stormriders. Also, from NSW is Simon Gudgeon performing at Design Hair Studio, Charlie Fittler performing at Bras & Things, Emmagen Rain performing at Collins Booksellers and Shania Bonita performing at Ishka.

Victoria and Queensland have also been well represented among the finalists with Horizon (VIC), performing at Sussan and Embers (VIC) performing at Westpac. Jimmy Davis (QLD) performing at Kevin Anderson’s office, Haystack Mount Hermits, (QLD) at HelloWorld and Andrew Cousins (QLD) at MyHouse.

Toyota Country Music Festival Manager, Mr. Barry Harley says busking brings life and colour to the streets of Tamworth during the Festival and is one of the most popular attractions.

“Throughout the Festival, we see up to 400 buskers perform on Tamworth’s ‘Boulevard of Dreams’ in Peel Street for their shot at stardom. It has become the place where stars are born, and dreams come true with many of Australia’s finest country music artists first making their mark on the industry from a busking spot on Peel Street.”

Stars like Troy Cassar-Daley, Kasey Chambers, Beccy Cole, Keith Urban and Travis Collins all started out by busking on Peel Street and have all gone on to achieve great success.

“Busking in Tamworth is a key part of the country music journey,” added Mr. Harley, “it is a perfect launch-pad for aspiring musicians as it helps them to get their music out there to a large audience. It also helps them build a solid foundation in Tamworth and set themselves up to take on other opportunities such as Toyota Star Maker.”

All those taking part in the 2018 Toyota Busking Championship will have a chance to share in over $5,000 in cash and prizes, plus an opportunity to perform at The Last Roundup on Sunday, 28 January 2018 in Toyota Park, as well as a guest appearance during the Opening Concert in 2019.